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Dubois trainer makes huge prediction ahead of Wardley clash
Boxing fans are salivating in anticipation ahead of the heavyweight title fight between Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley.
The pair of knockout artists go head-to-head at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena on Saturday, May 9, and the mouthwatering contest will be live and exclusive on DAZN PPV.
After a brief spell with Tony Sims, Dubois is now back training with Don Charles, and the latter has liked what he has seen from the former champion since returning.
Charles admits he is pleased to have Dubois back in the gym and believes his charge is developing all the time, both as a fighter and as a man.
“Daniel is maturing every day as a human being. Even if he wasn’t a fighter, he’s maturing. That’s what I see, I see maturity,” Charles told DAZN News.
“He’s a developing fighter, he’s still only 28 years old – we must remember that. What he’s achieved in his time as a professional boxer, and in his life, we have to recognise that.
“I always choose to focus on the positives but also recognise the errors that one has made and try to reduce them. We can never eradicate the errors – they will always be there – [but] try to make new mistakes. Fix the ones that you can identify.”
Matt Astbury
Wardley was awarded the WBO strap following his stunning stoppage victory over Joseph Parker in October, continuing his meteoric rise in the process, and this will be the first defence of his world title.
Dubois hasn’t fought since losing his IBF title to Oleksandr Usyk via a fifth-round knockout at Wembley Stadium last July, and now gets a shot straight back into the big time against Wardley.
Charles believes Wardley presents a very different challenge to that of Usyk and explained that they are working on a completely different game plan for this contest.
He added: “I look at myself as like a Saville Row tailor – they’re supposed to be good, right?
“So, what we do is we make the suit to fit the individual. Usyk is a totally different animal to Fabio Wardley, so we have to make a suit that fits Fabio Wardley. Simple as that.
“It’s business as usual, like I say, you’ve got to make the suit and cater this particular camp to accommodate the opposition. It’s not complicated at all.”
Charles acknowledged the respect he has for Wardley and his remarkable road to becoming a world champion, but the trainer has no doubt about the outcome when these two heavyweight bangers collide.
He continued: “What I admire about the young man, Fabio, is that his journey has been remarkable. It’s a movie because where he came from, he’s not supposed to be where he is – ending up a world champion.
“The guy never did amateur boxing, didn’t have that pedigree, and to be where he is, it is unbelievable. I’m proud of him because I’ve known his journey, but unfortunately, he is coming up against a high pedigree that Daniel Dubois brings, and that will tell on the night.”
Both men are noted for their knockout power, and Charles doesn’t see anything other than a tear-up unfolding in front of a packed arena in May, but he couldn’t be more confident about his man coming out on top.
When asked if he thinks it will be as exciting as everyone is predicting, Charles replied: “Most definitely. Their knockout ratios are almost identical, so that suggests that it will be a shootout.
“It will be a shootout, but this is where you’re going to see the pedigree – the amateur system that Daniel came through will be evident. That’s what will divide them.
“Daniel is going to win, that’s my prediction. I can tell you as much that he will knock Fabio out cold!”
Wardley vs. Dubois exclusively on DAZN
The WBO world heavyweight title is on the line for Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois on May 9, only on DAZN PPV. Buy as a one-off PPV or included, along with Usyk vs Verhoeven (May 23), with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription.
